Yeah, the GF was pretty choked up reading it yesterday morning.
The Autism Thread
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- DaveInSeattle
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Re: The Autism Thread
So I haven't given a Max update in a while. As you would remember, the school system and the Family BFJ haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye through the years about Max's education and how it should be handled. Last year we reached a boiling point with them and told them in no uncertain terms that Max wasn't returning to their buildings and that between his parents and the behavioral team that we put together, we would start to figure out how to spend the next two years in the school system getting him ready to transition out of the school system and into the real world. They weren't teaching him job skills or social skills or life skills anyway, so why bother sending him to a building that has nothing but negative energy and frustration for my son?
So we threatened to sue for due process, again. But this time the county didn't want to fight. They came to the table and after a long back and forth we signed an agreement today that lets Team Max plan his transition out of the school system at 21. I never have to sit in another IEP meeting and that is HUGE, as long as they hold up their end of the legal agreement.
So we found him jobs. He is working at a local pizza shop we love (volunteer) and at the Cheesecake Factory (getting minimum wage) a few hours a week, just to start learning what working is like. It lets him interact with the public in a real world setting that can't really be replicated anywhere else. He has a job coach, who is from the behavior team and all they do is sit back, help him focus and reward him with his breaks. He has two other opportunities lined up with a restaurant that we frequent (they love him) and a cookie manufacturer (the owner is related to someone on the behavior team).They will hopefully get started by the start of 2024.
He is happy. A lot less stressed every day. He still has his struggles. As he always will. But this is a good post, which don't happen often enough in this thread.
![Image](https://i.ibb.co/9HRdPvC/max-pizza.jpg)
So we threatened to sue for due process, again. But this time the county didn't want to fight. They came to the table and after a long back and forth we signed an agreement today that lets Team Max plan his transition out of the school system at 21. I never have to sit in another IEP meeting and that is HUGE, as long as they hold up their end of the legal agreement.
So we found him jobs. He is working at a local pizza shop we love (volunteer) and at the Cheesecake Factory (getting minimum wage) a few hours a week, just to start learning what working is like. It lets him interact with the public in a real world setting that can't really be replicated anywhere else. He has a job coach, who is from the behavior team and all they do is sit back, help him focus and reward him with his breaks. He has two other opportunities lined up with a restaurant that we frequent (they love him) and a cookie manufacturer (the owner is related to someone on the behavior team).They will hopefully get started by the start of 2024.
He is happy. A lot less stressed every day. He still has his struggles. As he always will. But this is a good post, which don't happen often enough in this thread.
![Image](https://i.ibb.co/9y27pqD/max-cfactory.jpg)
![Image](https://i.ibb.co/9HRdPvC/max-pizza.jpg)
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
- DSafetyGuy
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Re: The Autism Thread
That's awesome, BFJ.
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Re: The Autism Thread
that is, indeed, the good stuff, BFJ.
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Re: The Autism Thread
Awesome news, BFJ. Glad you were able to persevere and get what’s best for Max.
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- DaveInSeattle
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Re: The Autism Thread
Great work Max and Team BFJ!
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Re: The Autism Thread
Fantastic news, BFJ. Thanks for the update, it's great to hear.
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Re: The Autism Thread
Yay, Max! So glad to hear all of this, especially after all of the headaches you've been through.
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- Steve of phpBB
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Re: The Autism Thread
God, that's so good to see, it's getting dusty in here.
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
Re: The Autism Thread
So great.
he’s a fixbking cyborg or some shit. The
holy fuckbAllZ, what a ducking nightmare. Holy shot. Just, fuck. The
holy fuckbAllZ, what a ducking nightmare. Holy shot. Just, fuck. The
- MaxWebster
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Re: The Autism Thread
oh man. real-swamp-hitting-me-in-the-feels.
bfj this is great and i'm beaming looking at those pictures - congrats. gotta celebrate these moments.
bfj this is great and i'm beaming looking at those pictures - congrats. gotta celebrate these moments.
bfj wrote: ↑Mon Dec 04, 2023 4:42 pm So I haven't given a Max update in a while. As you would remember, the school system and the Family BFJ haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye through the years about Max's education and how it should be handled. Last year we reached a boiling point with them and told them in no uncertain terms that Max wasn't returning to their buildings and that between his parents and the behavioral team that we put together, we would start to figure out how to spend the next two years in the school system getting him ready to transition out of the school system and into the real world. They weren't teaching him job skills or social skills or life skills anyway, so why bother sending him to a building that has nothing but negative energy and frustration for my son?
So we threatened to sue for due process, again. But this time the county didn't want to fight. They came to the table and after a long back and forth we signed an agreement today that lets Team Max plan his transition out of the school system at 21. I never have to sit in another IEP meeting and that is HUGE, as long as they hold up their end of the legal agreement.
So we found him jobs. He is working at a local pizza shop we love (volunteer) and at the Cheesecake Factory (getting minimum wage) a few hours a week, just to start learning what working is like. It lets him interact with the public in a real world setting that can't really be replicated anywhere else. He has a job coach, who is from the behavior team and all they do is sit back, help him focus and reward him with his breaks. He has two other opportunities lined up with a restaurant that we frequent (they love him) and a cookie manufacturer (the owner is related to someone on the behavior team).They will hopefully get started by the start of 2024.
He is happy. A lot less stressed every day. He still has his struggles. As he always will. But this is a good post, which don't happen often enough in this thread.
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Re: The Autism Thread
That is awesome. Whenever I get a chance to get to Baltimore, Max is making my pizza!
To quote both Bruce Prichard and Tony Schiavone, "Fuck Duff Meltzer."
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Re: The Autism Thread
That's great, BFJ.
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Re: The Autism Thread
Great work, BFJ, and congratulations to Max! I'm really sorry to hear about the school/IEP troubles, but I'm glad that you seem to have found a workable solution. I'm listening to my wife in the other room right now on the call with a parent (I think) talking about managing school services for a special needs kid. It can be difficult even in the best school systems.
Totally Kafkaesque
Re: The Autism Thread
Bfj gonna make max into a Jamaican... He got four jobs, mon. Nice pics
Re: The Autism Thread
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Re: The Autism Thread
Responded
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
Re: The Autism Thread
Love this kid. He and Max were classmates for a while. I asked him to throw out a first pitch at a class A game our org attended a few years back. He called when when he got the first pitch call from the O’s and told me he was getting “called up”!
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
- govmentchedda
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Re: The Autism Thread
That's so cool, bfj.
Until everything is less insane, I'm mixing weed with wine.
Re: The Autism Thread
Couldn’t happen to a better kid/family. On a personal note, I’m pretty pumped to be onfield for BP today. Never done that.
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
Re: The Autism Thread
Well that's just awesome. Good for you, bfj, and good for the Os.bfj wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:46 am Love this kid. He and Max were classmates for a while. I asked him to throw out a first pitch at a class A game our org attended a few years back. He called when when he got the first pitch call from the O’s and told me he was getting “called up”!
Totally Kafkaesque
- Steve of phpBB
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Re: The Autism Thread
That's so awesome, for the kid and for you, BFJ.
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
- DaveInSeattle
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Re: The Autism Thread
That is super cool!
We are taking Caity's daughter Kelsey to a "Sensory-Friendly" performance of "Aladdin" tomorrow afternoon.
What makes it "sensory friendly":
We are taking Caity's daughter Kelsey to a "Sensory-Friendly" performance of "Aladdin" tomorrow afternoon.
What makes it "sensory friendly":
Hopefully Kelsey enjoys it...we are fully prepared to leave at any time if it proves to be too much for her.THEATRE MODIFICATIONS
• ASL available for this performance
• Lower sound level
• Lights remain on at a low level in the theatre during the performance
• A reduction of strobe lighting or lighting focused on the audience
• Patrons are free to talk and leave their seats during the performance
• Designated quiet and activity areas within the theatre
• Space throughout the theatre for standing and movement
• Guidance and sensory supports (fidgets, earplugs, noise cancelling ear-muffs) available in the lobby before the show
• Audience members are welcome to bring their own manipulatives, seat cushions, comfort objects, and extra support items to the show
• Use of tablets, smart phones, and other electronic devices can be used with headphones during the performance
• Extra staff and volunteer support
• STG staff trained to be inviting and accommodating to families' needs
• Specialized therapists will be assigned to every floor to support families in need
Re: The Autism Thread
These can be great. AMC Movie chains also has a schedule of sensory friendly movies. I'm sure Caity knows about them. These plays and productions are great for those that need that special accommodation. Max doesn't really dig them because the people who need to be able to be loud There is a dinner theatre in MD that is putting on the same production here. We were promoting it on our social media.DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 10:35 am That is super cool!
We are taking Caity's daughter Kelsey to a "Sensory-Friendly" performance of "Aladdin" tomorrow afternoon.
What makes it "sensory friendly":
Hopefully Kelsey enjoys it...we are fully prepared to leave at any time if it proves to be too much for her.THEATRE MODIFICATIONS
• ASL available for this performance
• Lower sound level
• Lights remain on at a low level in the theatre during the performance
• A reduction of strobe lighting or lighting focused on the audience
• Patrons are free to talk and leave their seats during the performance
• Designated quiet and activity areas within the theatre
• Space throughout the theatre for standing and movement
• Guidance and sensory supports (fidgets, earplugs, noise cancelling ear-muffs) available in the lobby before the show
• Audience members are welcome to bring their own manipulatives, seat cushions, comfort objects, and extra support items to the show
• Use of tablets, smart phones, and other electronic devices can be used with headphones during the performance
• Extra staff and volunteer support
• STG staff trained to be inviting and accommodating to families' needs
• Specialized therapists will be assigned to every floor to support families in need
I've gone to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra a number of times about putting on sensory friendly performances like the Boston Pops and other orchestras do, but they want a LOT of money for that and it just isn't in our budget to do it. It is frustrating, because I know it would do well. Music is a real connector for people and autistic people are no different.
Last edited by bfj on Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
- Nonlinear FC
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Re: The Autism Thread
Kind of a threadjack, but I want to see the play consisting solely of autistic actors in New York. Really cool story and the few numbers I heard were catchy AH.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
Re: The Autism Thread
How to Dance in Ohio opened at the start of this year and it closed already. Didn't last long.Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:27 pm Kind of a threadjack, but I want to see the play consisting solely of autistic actors in New York. Really cool story and the few numbers I heard were catchy AH.
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
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Re: The Autism Thread
Aw man. Bummer. They sure got a nice media pop. Saw/heard 3 or 4 separate stories on that.
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Re: The Autism Thread
All great stuff in this thread today, except for the show closing early. This thread is always a gamble, don't know if you are getting heartwarming stories, or angry.
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Re: The Autism Thread
Tell me you've got photos. Strike that. Show me your photos, bfj.
Until everything is less insane, I'm mixing weed with wine.
Re: The Autism Thread
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.
Re: The Autism Thread
BFJ is the town wizard who runs a magic shop. He also has a golem that he has trained to attack anti-Semites.